After My Shotgun Wedding

What happens one summer, when the best friend and buddy you ever had in your whole life turns out to be a girl instead of a boy like you and she is trapped in a family with an abusive father? You find a way to get her off of the mountain and into the city. And you make her your college roommate. Back home after graduation, Jim is a teacher and Curly is a nurse. An angry abusive father with the help of thirteen relatives with shotguns force Jim and Curly to deal with their true feelings for one another. Later Curly is called as nurse for Ann's sick baby. When Ann's baby dies, Curly decides to become a doctor. Ann runs away to the city. Ann's husband and two of his buddies rape Curly for revenge on Jimmy's birthday. The following year, Curly goes to medical school and Jim works in a store. Then Curly gives birth to their lovechild, Lenore. A month later, Curly brings Ann home for some payback and falls in love with Ann. Curly promises to share Jimmy with Ann and that when Ann is twenty-one Ann can have their second lovechild. Does Jim bail or does he come to love Ann as much as Curly loves Ann? What happens when the Love Nest scandal hits the front page and Curly gets her fifteen minutes of fame? "Sometimes Love is all there is." Ann whimpered, "Do you wish you never let me have my baby?" Curly whispered, "Oh, Ann. I love you. I am so glad we have JJ. I am so happy you are in my life. I wouldn't want it any other way. Each of us has a lovechild with Jimmy. They are our children. Nothing else matters We have each other. We will get through this. Even if we have to go and live on the mountain with Mom and Dad, we will get through this." They got to their feet and ran to the couch. They came at Lenore and me from two sides. They alternated kissing us. Finally they paused and just sat there with their arms around each other and around Lenore and me Curly said, "Jimmy once told me: 'We don't have a choice. Things change. Everyone dies. We have to do the best we can to make the kind of life we want. And sometimes we just have to live with the life we get.' My darlings," Curly continued, "I did the best I could to make the kind of life I wanted. I'm sorry if the pursuit of my dream hurt your dream, but I love you, Ann. I love you, Jimmy. I love you, Lenore. And I love JJ. Nothing else matters Now we have to find a way to live with the life we have." Ann said, mushing her nose into Lenore's nose, "Let's make cookies and have a party. Nobody has to go to work or school tomorrow." Lenore got a look of such joy on her face. Lenore said, "Yippee " And Lenore wiggled off of my lap and out from between Mommy Curly and Mommy Ann. Lenore headed toward the stove in the kitchen. I put my arms tighter around my two girls. I pulled their heads closer to mine and I kissed each of them passionately one more time. They laid their heads down on my shoulders: a blonde head on my right shoulder and an auburn head on my left shoulder. They sighed contentedly. I whispered, "Maybe we can have some normal sex tonight." I meant normal for us. They giggled. And then they got off of me and I got off of the couch. We went into the kitchen and made sugar cookies with the cookie cutters so everybody could have their favorite shape, frosted with their favorite color and flavor. It was a wonderful time. Later, we made sure that JJ had the proper food for an, almost, four-year-old. (From pages 258-260) Follow the trail to Adventure and Romance with Curly, Ann, and Jimmy.